Council Approves Wastewater Plan Application
The Oskaloosa Southwest Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The City of Oskaloosa has been working on a plan to come into compliance with Iowa Department of Natural Resources standards, after being cited in September of 2014 for excessive infiltration and inflow that leads to bypassing treatment during wet weather events.
Oskaloosa is now in the stages of applying for financing to cover the over 7 million dollars in construction costs to fix problem areas of the sanitary sewer system. Those projects need to be completed by 2020.
The City is also required to provide a Nutrient Reduction Strategy by December of 2017 to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in the effluent waters, as well as disinfection at both treatment facilities to achieve compliance with new E. Coli permit limits that will take effect by March of 2019.
The City contracted FOX Engineering Associates to prepare the report for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems, as well as prepare an overall facility plan that would help to determine system needs, and provide recommendations to the council.
The Northeast Wastewater Treatment Facility is at least 60 years old and had upgrades in 1974, 1991, 1994, and 1996. The Southwest Wastewater Treatment Facility was brought online in 1974, and expanded in 1994, with improvements taking place in 2001 and 2003.
FOX suggested improvements of 30.23 million dollars, which will help the city to come into compliance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources mandates. These improvements include, an oxidation ditch with UV disinfection and a pump station at the NE plant to the SW plant.
Fox recommended that the improvements be constructed and operational within 10 years and will coincide with the city work of reducing I&I.
“For this option, the City should proceed to raise rates as soon as possible, so that resources can be saved to lower the financed amount. The City should also request a variance from the IDNR for extending the Disinfection Compliance Schedule from March 1, 2019 to March 1, 2027,” stated the report from FOX.
This presentation by FOX Engineering highlighted the overall scope of upcoming work needed to bring the city into compliance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Council approved a resolution authorizing submission of an intended use plan application to the Iowa Clean Water State Revolving Fund, in the amount of $7,064,000 required for the sanitary sewer collection system improvements to reduce infiltration and inflow.
The measure passed on a 6-0 vote.
The Oskaloosa City Council will meet in regular session on Monday, March 6th at 6pm in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
